What is the difference between Canal+ and beIN SPORTS?
Canal+ and beIN SPORTS are often confused, because both show football in France. Yet their positioning is very different. Canal+ is a premium, long-established multi-sport broadcaster that concentrates the top tier of European football and other sports. beIN SPORTS specialises in the major foreign leagues, at a more affordable price. Understanding this difference avoids paying twice for the same thing, or missing what you really want to watch.
Different competitions
The heart of the difference is the rights. Canal+ shows most of the Champions League (except the Tuesday tie on Prime Video), England's Premier League, Top 14 rugby and Formula 1. beIN SPORTS holds Spain's LaLiga, Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga and one Ligue 1 fixture per round. So the two barely overlap: they are more complementary than competing.
| Criterion | Canal+ | beIN SPORTS |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ≈ €29.99/mo | ≈ €15/mo |
| Champions League | Yes (most of it) | No |
| Premier League | Yes | No |
| LaLiga / Serie A / Bundesliga | No | Yes |
| Ligue 1 | No | One fixture per round |
| Other sports | Top 14, F1, tennis | Handball, various sports |
A clear price difference
Price is the other big difference. Canal+ starts at an approximate price of around €29.99/month for a package including sport, and rises with options. beIN SPORTS sits around €15/month via beIN Connect or partner offers. beIN is therefore about half the price, explained by a narrower scope focused on foreign leagues.
Which to choose for your profile?
The right choice depends on the competitions you follow. If you are a Champions League, Premier League or multi-sport fan, Canal+ is the pick. If you mainly follow Real Madrid, Barça, Juventus or Bayern, beIN SPORTS is for you, at a low price. And if you want both worlds, nothing stops you combining the subscriptions.
- Champions League and Premier League fan: Canal+.
- LaLiga, Serie A or Bundesliga fan: beIN SPORTS.
- Want all European football: Canal+ + beIN SPORTS.
- Tight budget, foreign leagues only: beIN SPORTS alone.
Should you get both?
Many enthusiasts combine Canal+ and beIN SPORTS to cover the Champions League, the Premier League and the major foreign leagues at once. The combined indicative budget is around €45/month. It is not compulsory: it all depends on your priorities. Note that neither replaces Ligue 1+, essential for most Ligue 1 matches.
In summary
Canal+ and beIN SPORTS do not show the same competitions: Canal+ for the Champions League, the Premier League and premium multi-sport; beIN SPORTS for LaLiga, Serie A, the Bundesliga and one Ligue 1 fixture. Canal+ is more complete and pricier, beIN more targeted and more affordable. Many fans combine them.